Paul Pierce: Time for Nets to Run New York City

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — New York has always been a Knicks town, but in Paul Pierce’s mind, it’s time for a change.

Pierce was acquired from the Boston Celtics along with Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry earlier this offseason in an attempt to turn the Brooklyn Nets into championship contenders. They made the playoffs during their inaugural season in Brooklyn, but lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round.

This year the Nets will go into the season with one of the best starting lineups in the league with Pierce, Garnett, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Joe Johnson.

The Knicks improved as well by trading for Andrea Bargnani and signing Metta World Peace, but Pierce believes that New York may become a Nets town soon enough.

“I think the hate [for the Knicks] has grown a little. Everybody knows how much I disliked the Knicks when I was with the Celtics, but I think it’s grown to another level,” Pierce said on ESPN NewYork 98.7 FM’s The Michael Kay Show on Thursday. “I think it’s time for the Nets to start running this city.”

The Nets and Knicks will meet four times in 2013-14. The first game of their regular-season series will be Dec. 5 in Brooklyn.